Fashion Web

THE first ever item of clothing to be made using spider silk will go on display the V&A in January. The scarf was created using the silk of one million spiders and took 80 people over five years to collect them.

"We were keen to show the spider silk textiles at the V&A, being the most appropriate place to premiere this work in Europe," said its creator Simon Peers. "The unique and historic costume and textile collections have been a constant source of inspiration over the years. As far as we know the V&A has never before shown anything made from spider silk, despite its diverse collections of art and decorative arts."

The scarf will be showcased alongside a matching golden cape, which is currently being made in Madagascar. The items are made through collecting spiders and extracting their silk by trained handlers. The animals are then let loose at the end of the day.